The Adult Advanced Practice Nurse (AAPN-also known as the Clinical Nurse Specialist) program prepares graduates as clinical experts who provide, supervise, and improve care for adult patient populations within the expanded scope of advanced nursing practice. There are three domains of AAPN practice, known as the three "spheres of influence." These spheres include the patient/family, nursing personnel and system/network organization. The AAPN interacts with the health delivery team in care delivery, staff development, and research in order to promote evidence-based care in the select population.

The program provides students with hospital-based clinical experiences designed to prepare students to work with a variety of adult populations. Christian moral and ethical principles serve as the guide for care-giving, communication, collaboration, and decision making as an AAPN. Upon graduation, AAPN graduates are eligible to sit for the Adult Health certification examination offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

Program Structure

The program of study leading to the MSN degree is structured upon the following components:

Total Credit Hours:                  42
Clinical Laboratory Hours:      75
Clinical Practicum Hours:      525

For further information and all application materials please contact 610.282.1100 ext. 1664 or msn@desales.edu